Note: "Burma" before
1948 consisted of the British colonial territory (covering
the extinct kingdoms of "Burma," Talaing (Pegu), and
Arakan, as well as some minor lands), together with two
groups of states, whose status was similar to that of the
Indian states: the Shan states and the Karen states.
"Shan" is a Burmese word, cognate with "Siam"; the Shan
states areethnically Tai, closely related to the majority
population of Thailand; for a time they formed the "Shan State" in
independent Burma. The Karenni states formed for a time
the "Kayah State"
in independent Burma (see Map
of Shan States c.1910). On 29 Apr 1959 the
Shan and Kayah rulers formally
surrendered their ruling powers to the Burmese government.

Shan (Tai)
states

Note: In the interest of
comprehensiveness, a number of states are listed for
which no record of rulers is available. The ruler of a
major Shan (Tai) state is styled saohpa
(Burmese: sawbwa); in minor
states the ruler may be styled myoza
or ngwegunhmu. Burmese names
of thestates are given in parentheses.

1887
British protectorate over the Shan States. 1 Oct
1922
Federated Shan States formed by U.K.
(34 northern and southern Shan states; not
including the Wa states). 10 Oct 1922
Karenni (Kayah)
states placed under the administration of the
Shan states. 1 Apr
1937
By the Burma Act, the Shan State is administratively
separated from Burma proper and put under a second
administrative circle. 25 Nov 1942 - 25 Sep 1943 Japanese
occupation (de facto to 3 May 1945). Dec 1942 -
1945
Thailand occupies parts of Shan States (Kengtung [Kyaington]

1739
Kho Kan Shan state established in area withcapital at Satishu.
The area became a district within the
state of Hsenwi
(from
1888 North
Hsenwi), but remained, in effect,
an
autonomous sub-state under the Chinese Yang
dynasty. 1795
Renamed Ko Kang. 1840
Accepted the sovereignty of Hsenwi. 4 Feb
1897
Under British protection after China
relinquishes jurisdiction. 12 Aug
1947
Recognized as a separate Shan
state.